We are all faced with decisions on a regular basis. Some are big and others seemingly small, but life is full of choices. You have probably read or had someone suggest you write out a pros and cons list to help you make a decision. But are there some other things we need to consider as believers or at least a deeper way of looking at the pros and cons of any situation? Elizabeth George provides us with four questions we can ask ourselves when faced with decisions.
Also, what can we learn from a first-century Roman centurion about hearing God’s Word?
Today’s Readings:
1 Chronicles 28 & 29
Psalm 78.67-72
Proverbs 20.6-7
Acts 10.24-48
4 Questions to Ask When Faced with Decisions
1 Chronicles 28 & 29:
In Writing
In chapter 28.11-18 David gave his son Solomon the instructions for building the temple and making its instruments and in verse 19 he said, “‘All this,’ said David, ‘the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.'”
Did you notice what David said? “The LORD made me understand in writing …”
While nothing you or I write carries the weight or authority of Scripture, there is still great value in making notes as you spend time with God in prayer and in His Word. Writing out verses and insights helps us remember them and gives us a record of our spiritual growth.
You might call it a spiritual or prayer journal or a Scripture notebook. It might be handwritten or a document on your computer. You might add to it daily or less regularly but many people find it a great help in their devotional time.
While not commanded in the Bible, some of the Psalms are a form of journaling. Journaling is often considered one of the spiritual disciplines and many of the great men and women of God kept them. An additional benefit for us is that many of them have been published allowing us to learn from their struggles and insights.
When Making Decisions
One opportunity to use a journal in conjunction with your devotional time is when seeking wisdom for a decision. As I said in the introduction, we are all faced with decisions on a regular basis. And as believers, we should want those decisions to be guided by God’s Word and the principles it contains.
Some decisions are relatively insignificant in the whole scheme of things. What color car to buy? Whether to eat at this restaurant or that one? But others have life-changing consequences and can affect your relationship with God and others, hinder your spiritual growth, or result in undue temptation.
Elizabeth George in her book The Heart of a Woman Who Prays: Drawing Near to the God Who Loves You, suggests asking yourself these questions. I recommend doing so prayerfully and asking for God’s wisdom. Her questions are:
Why would I do something?
Or why would I not do it?
Why should I do it?
Or why should I not do it?
Looking Closer at Those Questions
If they seem overly simplistic, let’s take a minute and look a little closer at them. Notice those two different words in each set of questions, would and should.
The first two questions reveal our motives. For example, would I do or not do something because of what people might think? Would I do so out of pride or because of the fear of persecution? The Bible calls this the fear of man.
Would I not do something because of a fear of failure? If so, am I failing to trust God?
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe (Prov. 29.25 ESV).
The last two questions, why should I or should I not do something, get to why God would have us choose a particular action. Is there a commandment involved? Could God’s glory or my testimony be at stake? Is this a wisdom issue? Is there a biblical principle that I need to follow? If you’re not sure how to answer those questions, seek wise biblical counsel.
A Reminder
This can sometimes be a very helpful process, but we need to remember that anything we write out, even in our quiet time, is not the same as God’s inspired Word. Every decision we make must be made in light of His Word. It is, however, one way God can help us clarify our thoughts and consider them from a biblical perspective. That’s key … from a biblical perspective.
Dig into God’s Word. Even when the Bible does not address an issue directly or by the current terminology, there are, usually, principles that can guide us. And if you would like to learn more about making decisions in light of God’s will and principles, you might want to check out this post:
“Finding God’s Will for Your Life”
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 78.67-72:
From Sheepfolds & Fishing Boats
Verses 70-71:
70 He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
This reminded me of what Jesus told two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, in Matthew 4.19, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” God takes who we are and uses it for His glory!
Proverbs 20.6-7:
Proclaiming Our Own Goodness
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness (v. 6a).
Sadly, we are often blinded to our own sins and shortcomings. That’s why it’s so important to constantly hold up the mirror of God’s Word and to have other believers in our lives who will speak the truth in love.
Acts 10.24-48:
Ready to Hear
At the beginning of this chapter, we met a man named Cornelius. Verses 1-2:
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Cornelius was a Gentile who believed in God yet had not heard the gospel. But God was about to do a great thing by sending Peter to him.
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
And verse 33b:
Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.
What a beautiful picture! Here was a man who was eager to know God better. He gathered his friends and family and they were expectantly waiting to hear the man of God speak.
That should be an encouragement to us when we prepare to hear God’s Word proclaimed on Sunday mornings and other times. May we pray for open and expectant hearts, as well.
What about You? Questions to Ponder or Journal:
Are you faced with a decision? Try answering Elizabeth’s questions.
How do you approach the opportunity to hear the Word preached? with boredom? with indifference? or with expectation?
Lord, please help us to be eager to hear Your Word preached. Give us a hunger and thirst to know You more and better. Make us like Cornelius, his family, and the Bereans who “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17.11).
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, the desires of your heart, the First National Bank of God, parenting, and praying for our nation.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle through Amazon.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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